Zack Wheeler notches 100th career win, Phillies add to NL East lead over Braves in 3-0 victory

Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies bounced back after losing 7-2 on Friday night to the Atlanta Braves with a shutout, 3-0 victory on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

In the bottom of the third inning, Edmundo Sosa got the Phillies on the board with a solo home run. Trea Turner added a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the fifth before Sosa gave the Phillies and Zack Wheeler all the insurance they would need an RBI double in the seventh. 

Edmundo Sosa Home Run 

Say it ain't Sosa#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/oTMK9HRSjL

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 31, 2024

Trea Turner Home Run 

High. Deep. Gone.#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/S1GPom04un

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 1, 2024

Zack Wheeler Masterclass

Zack Wheeler was dominant yet again, tossing seven innings of shutout baseball, allowing just four hits and zero walks while striking out seven.

Keep rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin'@PALottery x #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/ahO1c03enj

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 1, 2024

The win marked career number 100 for Wheeler and lowered his ERA on the season to 2.63, trailing only Braves’ starter Chris Sale (2.58) for the best in the National League. 

Wheeler’s seven strikeouts raised his season-total to 183, just shy of Sale and Dylan Cease (197) for most in the National league.

Wheeler has an NL-best 0.98 WHIP, beating out Sale (1.02) and has pitched more innings  (167 2/3 to 153 2/3) and made more starts(27 to 25) which should be enough to be considered the front-runner to win the National League Cy Young Award at the end of the regular season. [MLB]

I was shocked to learn that Zack Wheeler finished the month of August with a 3-1 record and a 1.62 ERA over six starts given the struggles the Phillies endured for most of the month. Wheeler didn’t allow more than two runs in any of those six starts while striking out 44 and walking just five. [MLB]

The best part, is that Zack Wheeler did most of his work against teams currently holding a spot in the postseason (HOU, ARI, ATL). 

In 16 of 18 starts, Zack Wheeler has held opponents to two runs or fewer. He’s completed six innings in 21 of his 27 starts overall, which ties San Francisco Giants’ Logan Webb for the most this season. 

Against the Braves specifically, Wheeler has posted a 0.95 ERA over three starts, striking out 20 and walking zero in 19 innings of work. 

The Phillies currently hold a six-game lead over the Braves in the National League East with 26 games remaining – and one left against Atlanta.

The Final Stretch: Phillies Remaining Games

• Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies (1 Game) 
• Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies (2 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins (3 Games) 
• Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies (3 Games) 
• New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies (3 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers (3 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets (3 Games)
• Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies (3 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals (3 Games) 

The Final Stretch: Looking at the Phillies remaining 27 games and race to be crowned National League East Champions

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